WSBK riders mix it up at the Portimão beach

Today's event has certainly set the stage for a great Portuguese WSBK weekend.

Portimão (Portugal) - Portimão’s stunning Marina area was the location for today’s eighth media event of the season, which kick-started the Portuguese round of the 2014 eni FIM Superbike World Championship.

Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team), Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike), Chaz Davies (Ducati Superbike Team), David Salom (Kawasaki Racing Team – EVO), Claudio Corti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad Italia Superbike Team – EVO), Geoff May (Team Hero EBR) and Christian Iddon (Team Bimota Alstare – EVO) were involved in a Q&A session in front a group of selected media, as well as a number of holiday makers who were pleasantly surprised to be able to meet the stars from the track.

The riders were then invited to try their hand at cocktail mixing Portuguese style in front of the assembled crowd, many of whom had ventured from the adjacent beach to watch.

Reigning champion Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) made an unexpected appearance but politely refused to sample one of multi-coloured cocktails mixed by his rivals.

Today's event has certainly set the stage for a great Portuguese WSBK weekend with the on track action beginning tomorrow with the free practice sessions for all classes.